Post by David Troy on Jul 27, 2024 3:17:16 GMT
“Hey, Jiji.”
Sunset Memorial Park, Pearl City, HI.
The gravesite of Sanshiro “Sam” Hashimoto was immaculate. The marble stone shone in the sun almost, as his picture, engraved in the middle, seemed to smile at his grandson, who was kneeling in front.
“It’s Henry. It’s been a while, and, well… a lot’s been going on.”
Despite the Japanese names, our protagonist is speaking in clear, perfect English, aside from the use of “jiji,” the Japanese word for “grandfather.”
“Mom’s finally back on her feet. She actually just went back to work at Queen’s last week. And Naomi has another baby on the way. I think once she gives birth, the whole family will come up from Australia to see mom, and visit your grave.”
Henry is a large man; at about 6’4” and a little south of three hundred pounds, and he looks almost nothing like the professional wrestler he is; dressed simply in a suit, his almond eyes watering a bit.
“And me? Well, with mom doing OK now, I’m getting back into wrestling. I even have a tour of Japan coming up!”
This is Eiichiro “Henry” Yamazaki.
“And I’m using the old name again.”
Or as he was once known in the world of professional wrestling, Mushigihara.
“I know there is a lot of… history that comes with the name. With how I conducted myself in and out of the ring. And I know I let you down. But they know who I am now. Who I really am. No… grunting and grumbling, no acting like some stereotype… just… Henry. Me.
“You know… the place I’m wrestling for in Japan… MAX Japan? I was their heavyweight champion once. But that was when I was living that lie of being some near-mute beast. If I win the championship again, it will be as myself. As your grandson.
“And when that day comes… I’ll come back here with that belt, and you and I will share that drink you always wanted. We’ll drink together as men. And I’ll make you as proud as I should have for all these years.”
Henry stared at the engraving of his grandfather, smiling back at him. Sam Hashimoto was able to tell his grandson how proud he was of him before his death, but Henry still internalized his shame of deceiving him, by pretending to be a silent, hulking brute also known as the God-Beast. And now, he is hell-bent on winning on his terms.
“Just you wait, Jiji. The next time I see you, I will be triumphant.”
Henry now dropped to both knees, bowing before his grandfather’s grave, and then rose to his feet, wiping the brush off his pants.
“I hope you’re watching me. Because I will make you proud.
“I love you, Jiji.”
Henry silently turned on his heels, walking away from the gravesite, and onto his next great journey.
Sunset Memorial Park, Pearl City, HI.
The gravesite of Sanshiro “Sam” Hashimoto was immaculate. The marble stone shone in the sun almost, as his picture, engraved in the middle, seemed to smile at his grandson, who was kneeling in front.
“It’s Henry. It’s been a while, and, well… a lot’s been going on.”
Despite the Japanese names, our protagonist is speaking in clear, perfect English, aside from the use of “jiji,” the Japanese word for “grandfather.”
“Mom’s finally back on her feet. She actually just went back to work at Queen’s last week. And Naomi has another baby on the way. I think once she gives birth, the whole family will come up from Australia to see mom, and visit your grave.”
Henry is a large man; at about 6’4” and a little south of three hundred pounds, and he looks almost nothing like the professional wrestler he is; dressed simply in a suit, his almond eyes watering a bit.
“And me? Well, with mom doing OK now, I’m getting back into wrestling. I even have a tour of Japan coming up!”
This is Eiichiro “Henry” Yamazaki.
“And I’m using the old name again.”
Or as he was once known in the world of professional wrestling, Mushigihara.
“I know there is a lot of… history that comes with the name. With how I conducted myself in and out of the ring. And I know I let you down. But they know who I am now. Who I really am. No… grunting and grumbling, no acting like some stereotype… just… Henry. Me.
“You know… the place I’m wrestling for in Japan… MAX Japan? I was their heavyweight champion once. But that was when I was living that lie of being some near-mute beast. If I win the championship again, it will be as myself. As your grandson.
“And when that day comes… I’ll come back here with that belt, and you and I will share that drink you always wanted. We’ll drink together as men. And I’ll make you as proud as I should have for all these years.”
Henry stared at the engraving of his grandfather, smiling back at him. Sam Hashimoto was able to tell his grandson how proud he was of him before his death, but Henry still internalized his shame of deceiving him, by pretending to be a silent, hulking brute also known as the God-Beast. And now, he is hell-bent on winning on his terms.
“Just you wait, Jiji. The next time I see you, I will be triumphant.”
Henry now dropped to both knees, bowing before his grandfather’s grave, and then rose to his feet, wiping the brush off his pants.
“I hope you’re watching me. Because I will make you proud.
“I love you, Jiji.”
Henry silently turned on his heels, walking away from the gravesite, and onto his next great journey.